Welcome to your daily round-up of everything happening in the world of neurorehabilitation.
Research
Disparities in access to neurologists among dementia patients
Getting dementia diagnosed can be a long and difficult process for anyone, but some may face additional challenges based on race or ethnicity and where they live, according to a study led by Washington State University researchers.
The study of nearly 95,000 Washington state residents found that people living outside of urban areas as well as Native American and Hispanic people face longer travel distances to be seen by neurologists.
New findings shed led on possible mechanism behind MS
Investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have demonstrated for the first time that astrocytes, non-immune cells, can acquire a memory of their previous interactions with the immune system, with important implications for our understanding of tissue inflammation.
Considering the longevity of astrocytes, and their multiple contributions to CNS pathology, the authors suggest that astrocyte immune memory might be a possible mechanism behind chronic neurologic disorders, such as MS.
Advances in brain network analysis
Researchers from the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Georgia have summarised studies on brain networks within the context of Alzheimer’s and critically analysed the strengths and weaknesses of existing methodologies to offer novel perspectives and insights, intending to serve as inspiration for future research.
Five-minute GP test could prevent stroke
People at risk should be tested for atrial fibrillation every time they attend a health appointment, according to results of the AFFECT-EU project, which held its final event this week in Belgium. Patients at high risk of the disorder, such as those with heart failure or prior stroke, should be invited for a screening test, experts say.
BCAA supplements in childhood concussion
In the first clinical trial of a targeted pharmacologic therapeutic for mild traumatic brain injury in paediatric patients, scientists from the Minds Matter Concussion Frontier Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) have found preliminary evidence that adolescents and young adults with concussion who take a specific formulation of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplements after injury experience faster symptom reduction and return to physical activity.
New partnership to support search for MND treatments
Researchers at the University of Nottingham are joining forces with Stand Against MND, the charity co-founded by Sam Perkins who has MND, and the MND Association, to carry out research to better understand MND in order to speed up the race to find new treatments.
Technology
Spinal cord–computer interface shows promise in SCI
A direct spinal cord–computer interface enables the control of the paralysed hand in spinal cord injury, according to a new paper. Using a non-invasive neural interface, SCI participants with were able to match the cue hand posture by proportionally controlling four degrees of freedom (opening and closing the hand and index flexion/extension), These results demonstrate that wearable muscle sensors provide access to spared motor neurons that are fully under voluntary control in complete cervical SCI individuals.
Company
Seelos’ drug fails mid-stage trial
Seelos Therapeutics’ experimental ALS drug did not meet the main goal of a mid-stage trial, the company said on Tuesday. The drug, SLS-005, when tested in 120 patients, failed to show statistically significant improvement in motor function and reducing mortality in patients with ALS versus a placebo.
Vivistim device provides hope for stroke patients
Tampa General Hospital (TGH) is the first hospital on the West Coast of Florida to provide new hope to stroke patients experiencing loss of upper limb function with the help of a pacemaker-like device implanted under the skin. The Vivistim device provides Paired Vagus Nerve Stimulation, or Paired VNS to strengthen the brain connections needed to improve hand and arm function.
RespireRx Pharmaceuticals works to restore bladder function in spinal cord injury
RespireRx Pharmaceuticals and a scientist team led by Dr. David Fuller of the University of Florida has published a peer-reviewed research article describing the ability of CX1739, the company’s lead clinical-stage AMPAkine (AMPA glutamate receptor potentiator), to restore bladder function in rodents that have undergone spinal cord injury (SCI).
Update on buntanetap in Alzheimer’s trials
Annovis Bio, a clinical-stage drug platform company developing novel therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, announced successful completion of data cleaning for its phase II/III study of buntanetap in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease. Topline efficacy data is expected in April.
